LUXURY CARAVAN.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 353, 6 February 1937, Page 4

LUXURY CARAVAN.

HOME ON WHEELS. Modern Trailer at Stratford Camp Site. Five years of nomadic existence in a motor trailer caravan has only served to increase the enthusiasm of a party at present at the Stratford site for this carefree mode of living. Transacting business when the ! mood Comps an Auckland man and his wife, have roamed the North Island in Summer and in Winter, stopping at busy centres or resting at times in some quiet retreat.

All the amenities of home lite are provided for in the luxury caravan' viewed by the “Central Press’ yesterday.

A special feature of the caravan is a double shell, the interior being lined witlh insulating board whjlch, not only makes the temperature comfortable in summer and winter, but also prevents condensation which is one of the disadvantages' of some caravans. It is 12J feet in length, Meet 3 inches wide, and contains two rooms. The Interior is painted in peacock blue with beams of ebony. The five windows are draped with orange coloured curtains 1 and whether the sun shines or not the interior is always bright and attractive. Completing a charming picture was a bowl of fresh flowers. A folding extension tifl-ble, two settee, which can be used as bunks, and a single bed which, by an ingenious arrangement, is converted into a double bed, were the chief articles of furniture. A built-in wardrobe holding a surprising amount of clothes, china and toilet cabinets and receptacles for food and kitchen utensils, are cunningly arranged. Compact as Ship's Cabin. What looks like a table top is lifted and a porcelain wash basin is found. The whole interior is as compact as a ship’s cabin. Cooking is done on a benzine burner and a primus lamp, and no trouble is found in preparing a three-course meal. So easily does the caravan ride that food can be left choking when travelling without any danger of spilling. A hay box was found, to be very useful in preparing meals. In the opinion of the caravan owner it will not be long before caravptis Will replace seaside baches. The vehicles cost much less and have the advantage that the owner can go anywhere. In New Zealand, he said, caravaning is only in its infancy. In England last summer about 150,000 people spent their holidays on the roads. But it was necessary for municipal authorities to provide for the tourists. Money would be spent .in the town and visitors would go away will pleasant impressions. Hicondemned the running of cattle and Sheep on camping grounds. Taranaki camping grounds were, highly thought of and the excellent loads added'to the pleasure of travelling. Emphasising that he had no intention of criticising but merely to try and give me benefit of his experience ’he cara-' vane'r said that the Stratford site "as one of the nicest that they had stayed at. It was among the very few outside the centres which had a proper hot and cold water service However, he thought that a cold shower would be appreciated. The old camp fire was out-of-date and he thought that eleefric cookers should be installed. Off the Beaten Track In glowing terms the wife of the caravan owner, spoke of .life in her rolling home. Hedgehogs had eaten her tomatoes, but that was only an incident more amusing than annoying. Cyclones, earthquakes and snowstorms have not disturbed her serenity. Off the beaten track the caravaners have wandered and on one occasion they spent nearly a month alone in rugged forest country with the caravan nestling in a valley surrounded by towering hills, and only the song of the birds to break the stillness. in the winter time she and her husband play draughts, cards or enjoy the music of her portable gramophone. Next winter they will have a wireless, she has also her sewing machine and time never drags.